Heaven bless us.
General Pei, how are you doing?
Evil Taoist, you injured my eyes with a cheap trick,
or you would have long been dead.
General Pei, listen to my advice, come join Wagang.
How Yuwen Chenglong treats you,
you know very well.
Evil Taoist, it's my business, you don't need to concern yourself.
General Pei, so you really won't?
Join you despicable bandits?
Dream on.
Let me kill you today.
Hold on! Pei Yuanqing, do you want
your sister back or not?
If you do, come fight with me. Do you dare?
You think I won't?
Come on...
Pei Yuanqing, faster.
Come out...
That's below the belt, for shame!
Oh no, I fell into their trap.
I've been going nowhere.
It's that evil Taoist's formation.
How sneaky, let me see what you're up to.
General Pei, we meet again.
Stinking Taoist.
General Pei, I want to have a bet with you.
What kind of bet?
Everyone knows General Pei is very strong,
you can raise a thousand-catty vessel.
SQ?
I'm coming...
General, you take pride in your immense strength,
so we'll bet on that.
If we lose, we'll throw open the gate and surrender to you.
Good.
Heaven bless us. I am not done yet.
If you lose, you'll have to join us.
What do I need to do?
Master Yuanqing, could you lend one of your hammers to Shixin?
Here you go.
It's simple, let the two hammers meet.
Whoever's lets go of the hammer loses
Counselor said, if I can shake your hammer out of your hand
he'll treat me to a whole pig, right?
A whole pig.
Hold on. Really? Just by hitting?
Yes.
General Pei, be careful.
Rascal, my whole arm is numb.
You're not bad either.
It's the first time someone could take my strike head on.
Again...
You lost!
Counselor, he lost!
Buy me a whole pig...
Who says I lost?
It's still in my hand.
You went back on your word... I'll kill you...
You dare fight back?
Let me kill you...
Kill you...
Rascal, let me break you into pieces...
Drop dead...
Stop!
Shixin, put him down.
It's for my brother's sake,
or you'd be dead.
Brother, I've never had whole pig yet.
Counselor is a liar!
I don't want to play with you anymore...
Liar!
Master Yuanqing, you've spent so much time here,
Generalissimo Qin has routed your men.
Evil Taoist, I knew it was a trap,
But I never know you could be so despicable.
Master Yuanqing, if you'll surrender to us,
I can pass you the art of war.
I may have lost, but I'll still kill you.
Yuanqing, stop!
Take care...
Mother, Sister, why are you here?
We'll talk about that later.
Just surrender.
Surrender?
Yuanqing, at first, I thought like you,
that the people in Wagang are a motley crew, a band of bandits.
But after spending a few days with them,
I find they're all chivalrous men.
They live in harmony,
a far cry from the treacherous court.
Think about it, how does the Yuwen family treat us?
There's one more thing.
I've married Cheng Yaojin.
What? You married Cheng Yaojin?
Yes, my Sire brother has prepared you a feast,
he wants to have a drink with his brother-in-law.
Call it quits.
Yuanqing, listen to me, surrender.
If you stay in court, Yuwen Chenglong will do you in.
Let our family stay in Wagang for a stable life.
The pursuit of fame and fortune is just a flash in the pan.
Why go after it?
Mother, they lured me here and killed all my men,
how can I let them get away with it?
General Pei, Counselor factored that in.
We pulled punches when we captured your men They're alive and well.
They were kept in order.
They can be returned to your command any time.
Well then, I'll do as Mother said.
Good.
But, Mother, I have to go back and get Brother and Father out.
They're being held by Yuwen Chenglong as hostages,
He's been threatening me all along.
Now then...
General Pei, don't worry, I planned for this already.
But you'll need someone to help.
Who? Me?
On your knees.
Pei Yuanqing, you went to battle but suffered a total defeat.
It's most unforgivable,
no one can bail you out this time.
Commander, that was my strategy.
We let them capture us so we could go into the fortress.
I've taken Wagang Fortress.
I'm back with my men.
You mean it? Definitely.
Come.
This man is Qi Guoyuan, a Wagang leader.
He threw lime at me and hurt my eyes.
I brought him back so I could kill him in front of you.
It's payback time.
You mean it?
If you don't believe me,
you can go to Wagang yourself.
Report.
Commander, our standard's flying in Wagang.
Well? Commander, you believe me now?
I won with my head.
Commander, please release my father and brother.
Come. Yes.
Release Pei Renji and Pei Yuanshao.
Yes.
I really was taken by surprise.
But you must wipe out Wagang thoroughly,
if something goes wrong, if one is allowed to escape,
you'll still have to die.
Commander, don't worry,
I can promise you, I'll kill then": all,
not even a mosquito will be allowed to escape.
Good. Then kill this man first.
Yes.
Stop...
Pei Yuanqing, you can't do this...
You scared the hell out of me.
Pei Yuanqing, you dare disobey me?
Yuwen Chenglong, listen carefully,
I have gone over to Wagang.
From now on, Sui is my enemy.
I'm going to kill you for revenge.
Yuanqing, what's going on?
Father, Sui is hopeless, I've joined Wagang.
Mother and Sister are already there.
Let's join Wagang together.
You killed Yuwen Chenglong, we have no other choice.
Come on, cheers...
My toast to Brother Yuanqing on behalf of Wagang brothers.
Welcome to Wagang Fortress.
Thank you indeed.
I'm honored.
Bravo...
I say, I should grant you a title.
What would you like to do?
I know nothing except how to fight on the battlefield.
Then let me make you Left Vanguard Commander.
Brother Ji, have I got it right?
Sire, if you say so, it must be right.
Brother Yuanqing, so you're Left Vanguard Commander.
Thank you, Sire.
Long live Your Majesty.
We're brothers, don't stand on ceremony.
Besides, you're my brother-in-law.
Come on, cheers...
House of Prime Minister
My son Chenglong was a one of a kind talent
But he died in the hands of that traitor Pei Yuanqing.
I'll avenge you.
Your Honor, General Ma Shumou's here.
Ask him to come in. Yes.
Your Honor, greetings.
This is the cut from the construction material and labor costs as you demanded,
please have a look.
Just 3,000 taels?
You have hundreds of thousands of workers.
A tael a head adds up to hundreds of thousands of taels.
Where has the money gone?
Be honest with me.
Your Honor, not to say hundreds of thousands of taels,
I have yet to see tens of thousands of taels.
You have no idea how many have taken a cut.
This is not a lucrative post at all.
General Ma, I recommended you as Canal Construction Director to Sire,
I had to pull strings and grease palms before I could get you this lucrative post.
Don't you fail my efforts.
No...I'll do my utmost in order
to repay Your Honor's kindness.
But workers, materials, feeding workers,
everything costs money.
There really is no money to be made.
Alright, let me tell you how to strike gold.
We've completed the order as long as the canal reaches Yangzhou.
No one cares how the canal gets there.
Then make sure it passes through wealthy people's ancestral tombs
or temples with deep pockets.
Tell them it's what the decree demands.
In order to keep their tombs and temples,
they'll be willing to grease palms,
you'll find money pouring your way.
Smart! Your Honor is resourceful indeed.
Let me go tear down temples and ancestral tombs.
Don't forget, we'll split the money two to eight.
What? That's too much?
Then one to nine.
I get nine, you get one. Any objections?
No. Let me carry it out right away.
Please excuse me.
Guys, put your tools away. Meal time.
Meal time...
Don't fight, you'll all be fed.
Don't fight...
Come on, don't fight.
Don't push, don't fight...
Don't fight...
Guys, don't fight... I'm so hungry
Guys, this villa construction is a big project and time is tight.
You can't work on an empty belly.
We're on a rush and you've been working hard.
Each will be given 10 taels more on top of your pay.
Ou'll be paid once the construction is complete.
Bravo...
Master Shimin, don't worry,
you're so kind to us,
we'll stop at nothing to finish Jinyang Hall before the deadline.
Right...
Remember, you can use old wood,
but cover it with a new coat of paint,
and replace all nails with new ones.
Yes...
Dig in... Yes, dig in...
Master Shimin, why do we need to do that?
It's part of my plan.
It seems we can complete it in 28 days.
Brother Jiancheng, Yuanji, why are you here?
You're here working on the conversion of Tianlei Temple,
we came to see how it's going, and to see if we can lend a hand.
Brother Jiancheng, the progress is on schedule,
you can tell Father the construction will be completed on time.
Good.
Give way.
I'm the Canal Construction Director appointed by Sire,
Tianlei Temple lies on the canal route.
Come... Yes.
Tear it down. Yes.
Stop.
You want to oppose Sire's decree?
We're appointed by Sire too,
we're constructing his villa.
So Honorable Li is constructing the villa here.
Since we both work for Sire,
I can make it easy for you.
The canal can run around the temple.
But diversion costs money, can you pay for that?
General Ma, you don't want to make it easy,
you just want to make money.
I cut you some slack out of kindness,
but instead of being grateful, you're smearing my good name.
I'm done talking...
Come... Yes.
Tear it down. Yes.
Give way.
Stop.
Brother Li, let him go.
Li Shimin, think about it.
You only have one month, I have three.
Time is on my side, you can't afford to wait.
Think about it whether you should pay.
Let's go!
Floral House
Come on...
Cheers, come on...
How naughty...
Cheers...
General, you came at the right time,
you're going to have a treat.
Really?
We have a newcomer who's a musical talent.
She was attracted by your bearing,
she wants to perform for you.
Really?
General...
Lady, don't fool around.
Who says I'm fooling around?
Let me tell you, one word and you're dead, understand?
Alright, no talking...
Don't move.
Lady, what do you want?
Listen carefully.
Then canal has to bypass Tianlei Temple.
If you dare stir up trouble
at Tianlei Temple again,
Your head will be chopped off, understand?
Brother Jing, it's been years,
who knew we'd meet here again?
I knew you had great ambitions,
And you'd be back in the officialdom.
You're Deputy Director of Canal Construction now.
I'm just a small potato, running errands for other people.
Besides the canal can't be completed on time.
I'll lose this minor post in three months.
How come?
Come on.
I drew the canal construction blueprint.
I have every digging sight marked.
If I'm correct,
the canal doesn't need to pass through Tianlei Temple,
it should have been out of Shanxi by now.
And the cost should only amount to several thousand taels.
I don't know why, my superior Ma Shumou insists on tearing down Tianlei Temple
for the canal to pass.
A few days' delay here and there will add up,
the project will be slowed down.
In this case, somethings not right.
It's not a minor issue,
if I can see the blueprint, maybe I can think up a way for you.
Right, I almost forgot,
Brother Jing is an adept in calculation.
Here you are, have a look.
As I thought, the canal doesn't have to pass Tianlei Temple.
It's actually a diversion to by pass it.
Ma Shumou is greasing his own palm.
You dare threaten me?
I'm not one to be walked over.
I'll ask Li Mi to draw up another blueprint,
where the canal has to pass through Tianlei Temple.
Tomorrow I'll go there with the decree and the blueprint,
let's see if you'll still refuse to pay
Come on...
Director Ma.
Director, he's my good friend Li Jing.
We met in Tianlei Temple several days ago.
Li Mi, the blueprint is confidential, how could you show it to an outsider?
Director Ma, please don't get it wrong.
Li Jing is a mathematician,
and he knows more about irrigation works than I do.
That's why I showed him the blueprint,
to see if it needs improvement.
It'll expedite the progress of our project.
Honorable Li did every calculation right.
But Director Ma, you got it wrong.
The canal doesn't need to go through Tianlei Temple.
Maybe you should study the blueprint in greater detail.
Brother Jing and I are having a drinking party here,
Director Ma, you care to join us?
How did it go?
Master Shimin, I did what you asked.
I also found out the canal doesn't need to go through Tianlei Temple.
Good, we'll carry on with our work as usual tomorrow.
Good.
This is what you called a seamless cover-up?
Yuwen Huaji can tell at a glance that it's 60,000 taels short.
How useless!
This rascal Yuwen Huaji has gone too far.
He's safe and sound in court,
I have to bear everything on my own.
And he's taking a 90% cut. 90%!
I work by your side day and night,
How could you suspect me?
I'm sure Prime Minister has a mole here.
Your Honor, don't worry, I'll find him.
Report.
Your Honor, it's serious...
What is it? Just tell me.
Another site worker dropped dead again, and it was a horrible death.
They say... Go on.
They were killed by the ghosts of the workers who died in the flash flood.
What nonsense, there are no ghosts in the world.
What hearsay. Workers die.
Get me replacements.
Cook the books more properly,
make sure there are no mistakes.
Yes, Your Honor.
Take me to the scene. Yes.
In the third month of 605 AD,
Emperor Yang of Sui ordered the construction of the grand canal.
Several months later, together with his consorts and courtiers,
he went to Jinyang from Chang'an.
Chengdu, we have to remove this thorn Li Yuan by whatever means
or it'll spell future trouble.
Sire, take ca re.
Proceed.
Look, more workers died mysteriously last night.
People die everyday. What's the big deal?
Find a place to bury the bodies.
Just throw them away.
Don't delay the construction of the canal.
Your Honor...but...
it'll affect workers' morale.
Also, the temperature has been high,
and there have been heavy rains lately.
What if...it leads to a plague, then...
Plague;
It's not your kin, it doesn't come at a cost to you.
Your Honor, what if...
What if? What if a plague breaks out?
The consequence will be dire.
The progress of construction will be slowed down.
Just bury them, can't you even do that?
Yes, right away.
Take care of the bodies.
Report to the court that the dead have to be replaced.
Take ca re, Director.
Find a place to bury them all.
Yes...
How come it's just the few of you here?
Master Shimin, not a moment too soon.
Officers came last night and our men were taken for the canal construction.
Sire will be here in three days.
Though completion is near, there are things to tidy up.
With only the few of us, it cannot be completed on time.
Director Ma has enough workers,
why were ours taken away?
Let's go and check it out.
Let's go. Let's go.
Faster.
Brother Jing.
You must be Master Shimin of the House of Viceroy.
That's me.
I heard that Deputy Director Li pored over water works books
for the canal blueprint.
You're a man of great capability, you have a bright future ahead of you.
Master Shimin, you're too kind.
I wonder what brought you here?
Brother Li, I'm building a villa for Sire,
the schedule is tight and Sire is coming.
But our workers were taken away last night.
I heard they were needed for the canal construction.
But you've conscripted workers for the canal construction, how come...
Master Shimin, we were brought here last night.
People say there are ghosts in the water,
many have died mysteriously.
Master Shimin, please help us...
What? Li Shimin is looking into the water ghost case?
What water ghosts?
Just tell him there are no water ghosts.
Tell him to go away.
Your Honor, he promised the workers he'd exorcise the ghosts for future peace.
I don't think he'll give it up so easily.
He just wants workers, let him take them away.
An exorcism is no big deal,
but he may get in our way,
that would be detrimental.
Take care of it before Sire gets here.
Or our heads will roll, understand?
Your Honor, they're examining the bodies already.
What? Then stop them!
Well? Have you found the cause of death?
They suffered no external injuries, nor are there signs of poisoning.
The cause is still unknown.
That's my finding too.
To find out the truth, we should take a body back.
Whatever it takes, we must find out the cause.
Well? Do you know the cause?
The canal construction is a big project,
accidents keep happening to the workers,
tens of them die in a day.
We had people come investigate but nothing was found.
It's not that difficult if we want to find out the truth.
Let us take a body back for an autopsy,
and the cause will be found.
You can't do that.
Director, you don't want to find out the truth?
Master Shimin's willing to help you, why not?
You...
Brother Jing, in case the surviving family comes to identify the dead, what do we say?
Indeed, what?
Master Shimin, you're constructing Jinyang Hall for Sire,
You're short of workers.
I'm willing to return the workers to you.
Thank you indeed.
No thanks at all.
We quit.
What's going on?
We quit. There are water ghosts here, how can we work here?
We quit...
What now?
Go away...
Who dares to stir up trouble here?
I'll kill you before the water ghosts do.
I dare you, you're bluffing.
We quit.
You, kill them all.
Your Honor, let me give it a try.
Listen, arrest whoever I tell you to.
Let us go...
Why I an": being taken away...
We're not afraid of you...
Let go of me...
Be quiet and hear me out.
Please calm down.
Think about it,
if there are really water ghosts,
what's the use of you making a row here?
If it's not water ghosts, it must be sabotage,
if your morale falls because of it,
you've fallen into the trap.
If you trust me, go back to work.
Director will give you a proper account.
Yes, you will be given a proper account, now go back to work.
Alright, we'll believe Honorable Li this once, let's go back to work, come on...
Your Honor, they're pacified
Let's go.
Master Shimin, it's over now.
Let's go.
Wait.
Brother Li, how come you knew the workers would listen to you?
When there's a crowd, there must be leaders.
I just identified the instigators and had them arrested.
Without leaders, the others won't dare stir up further trouble.
You're meticulous indeed.
You're too kind.
Let's go.
Master Shimin, I got hair from the dead,
Let's go.
Anything special?
Ash from burnt hair should be black,
but the ash here is gray.
It shows the man suffocated from inhaling poison gas.
The gray is residue of the poison gas left in the hair.
So, the workers were murdered.
Who did that? And why?
Let's go to the site tonight.
Tonight?
Yes, be it man or ghost,
we'll only find out at night.
Let's go and make him show himself.
Good.
Master Shimin, you don't have to worry about the villa construction.
The workers are willing to work overtime.
It'll be completed tomorrow.
Good, once it's done,
give every worker an additional five taels.
Yes.
Your Honor, we've done what you ordered.
We've incited all the workers.
They all say they won't stop until the water ghosts are caught.
Good, well done.
I'll let you go back.
Mix with the workers
and make sure everyone knows about the water ghosts in two days.
Understand?
Yes, Your Honor.